A devastating week of torrential rain across Mexico has left at least 23 people dead, according to official figures released by local authorities on Friday. The intense and widespread rainfall was reported in 31 of the nation’s 32 states, unleashing a wave of destruction across the country.
Mexico’s civil defense officials identified the states of Veracruz in the east, Querétaro and Hidalgo in the center, and the north-central state of San Luis Potosí as the most severely affected regions. The scale of the humanitarian crisis is starkly visible in Hidalgo state, where 16 deaths were confirmed and an estimated 1,000 homes were damaged. Meanwhile, Puebla state recorded five fatalities, with eleven individuals still unaccounted for. Separately, one minor died in Veracruz, and a police officer lost his life in Querétaro.
Overwhelmed Communities and Government Response
The national coordinator for civil defense, Laura Velázquez, confirmed that the intense weather events have triggered widespread landslides, caused numerous rivers to overflow their banks, and led to several road collapses in the affected states.
President Claudia Sheinbaum responded quickly, announcing government action after meeting with local officials and cabinet members. “We are working to support the population, reopen roads and get the power back on,” she wrote in a public statement.
To bolster relief efforts, the military has been fully mobilized, with over 5,400 troops deployed to help distribute aid, along with necessary rescue equipment and vehicles. Shelters have also been opened immediately across the affected areas to accommodate those displaced from their homes.
Ongoing Threat from Tropical Storm Raymond
These severe conditions follow what has been a particularly heavy rainy season for Mexico in 2025, with the capital, Mexico City, even setting a new rainfall record.
The danger, unfortunately, is not yet over. Tropical Storm Raymond is currently situated off the country’s Pacific coast and is dumping heavy rains as it tracks northward. Initial damage from this storm system has already been reported in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán. The US National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will strike the southern part of Baja California over the coming weekend, necessitating continued vigilance and preparedness across the region.
